What is the name of those trees along Walmart.. (Centre: neighborhood, university)

[LionT]

Walmart Neighborhood Centre along University Blvd South? They are blooming white flowers these 2 weeks.
Anyone knows, would appreciate much if you could enlighten.
Thanks.

[southernnaturelover]

Flowering Pear, most likely 'Bradford Pear'. They're really awful trees, very short lived and they break apart easily in storms. If you really look you'll notice many of them are disfigured.

[LionT]

Thks. Are they really awful? Then why do people still plant them everywhere?

[sedimenjerry]

We have a lot of those trees in the Atlanta area and many other places as well. We had one in our front yard. The flowers are beautiful but they do smell bad if you get downwind of them or stand right next to one. They are weak though. Ours started to split after about 10+ years of growth. After 15 years a whole side had to come down and then a large branch on the other side fell down. Finally a year or two ago we had it removed. A few of our neighbors had removed theirs as well. They were popular here for new subdivisions in the early 90s when our neighborhood was made. They thrive in our climate and are one the first trees to bloom here. They're probably best in open spaces away from anything valuable.

[southernnaturelover]

Originally Posted by LionT

Thks. Are they really awful? Then why do people still plant them everywhere?

Because they're cheap and they're available by the hundreds at big box stores.

[LionT]

I see. Thanks.

[midtownruth]

Yep, pear trees always end up splitting in their later years. For a similar effect, you could look into dogwoods, but they are more fragile.

[michelle1965]

Actually they are ornamental pear trees, they have miniature pears on them which you can't eat. Bradford pears can be grafted onto the trees, but if the tree breaks, guess what? Up grows a ornamental pear tree, makes nice shade trees. The trees loves this climate.

[southernnaturelover]

Originally Posted by michelle1965

Actually they are ornamental pear trees, they have miniature pears on them which you can't eat. Bradford pears can be grafted onto the trees, but if the tree breaks, guess what? Up grows a ornamental pear tree, makes nice shade trees. The trees loves this climate.

They're all actually a type of Callery Pear, but there are many different cultivars such as 'Bradford' (most common), 'Cleveland Select', 'Chanticleer', etc

And you're right, they do make little marble sized pears. The problem is birds eat these fruits and then poop the seeds in wooded areas. The wild seedlings that come up have very vicious thorns and tend to be a pest. Pear trees are native to Asia and our native wildlife actually get very little benefit from the fruit. They will eat it if it's there, but it provides them very little nutrition.

[Reactionary]

snl - thanks for a great explanation.